The day the world didn't end

Today's the anniversary of the day in 1844 when thousands of Massachusetts residents, many of whom had sold all their belongings, gathered for the end of the world:

As the date approached, a great comet blazed across the Massachusetts sky, and the number of believers grew. On October 22nd, the Millerites donned white robes and climbed mountains or trees to speed their ascension into heaven. When the prophecy failed, most abandoned Miller's apocalyptical teachings and returned to their original churches.

Via Massachusetts 351.